Hundreds of images always pour in for SFR's annual Photo Contest. And it's our pleasure to sort through them—and let's face it, argue a little bit—to choose the winners. But this is the first time in recent memory that the results of the contest grace the pages of the weekly print edition rather than a special issue.

What turns an entry into a winner? It's in the eye of the beholder. It's the way the image captures light during a singular moment in time. It's the eyes, the hands, the outstreched arms, the color and even the wind.

Our favorites this year cross backward across the years from a timeless shot of Acoma Pueblo under a cloudy sky to a carnival during the time when everyone called the mall Villa Linda, and, finally, the grand prize winner is a view from the top of the hill that overlooks Santa Fe—this one looking back hundreds of years and also grounded firmly in the present.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted a photo and helped further our journalsim mission with the entry fee. Special appreciation to The Camera Shop of Santa Fe for providing gift certificates for the first, second and third place winners.

1st Place

1680 |Cross of the Martyrs, Santa Fe (Hunter Wahpepah)

2nd Place

Feria |Villa Linda Mall, 1998 (Michael Romero)

3rd Place

Acoma Sky City |View of Acoma from the hillside late in the afternoon (George Bajszar)

Honorable Mentions

Jemez Potter Aaron Tosa |Near the Santa Fe Plaza (Marc Forlenza)
Red or Green |Santa Fe Farmers Market (Linda Cox)
Sheepish |Truchas Peak (Greg Swift)
Sizzling Syncopation |National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque (Rachael Rodgers)
Mariano (Lucia Vinograd)
Harvest Sun |Old Fort Marcy Park (Sabrina-Leigh Thomas)
Crow Eating a Cherry |Candlelight neighborhood, Santa Fe (Genevieve Betts)

Like what you see?

Bid on a wall-sized canvas print of a winning photos at SFR's popup photo show on Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Violet Crown Cinema from 6 to 7:30 pm. Or order an 8 X 10 glossy from our online merch shop.

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